The Adjacent Slide: A Step-by-Step Guide to Strengthening Your Lacrosse Defense

In men’s lacrosse, defense is the key to shutting down the opposing team’s ability to score. A central tactic to achieving this is the adjacent slide, a strategic move that involves immediate help when a defender is about to be beaten by an opponent. We’ll start with a basic breakdown for newcomers and gradually dig deeper into its more complex execution.

What Is the Adjacent Slide?

Simple Breakdown for Beginners

• Definition: The adjacent slide is a defensive maneuver where a nearby defender (positioned next to a teammate under pressure) provides immediate support, instead of help coming from the crease.

• Purpose: Its aim is to prevent an attacker from having a clear path to the goal, effectively doubling up on the opponent and shutting down a scoring chance.

How It Works

1. Recognition: The adjacent defender spots their teammate being beaten and identifies the need to provide help.

2. Sliding Over: The adjacent defender temporarily abandons their assigned attacker and slides over to assist.

3. Recovery: Other defenders adjust their positions, filling in gaps and ensuring no attacker remains uncovered.

When Is the Adjacent Slide Effective?

• Against Strong 1v1 Attackers: Particularly effective when facing attackers with strong dodging or one-on-one skills.

• In Man-to-Man Defense: This technique works seamlessly within a man-to-man defensive scheme, where each defender is responsible for one attacker.

• Fast, Urgent Scenarios: Ideal for situations where an immediate response is needed to stop a fast break or isolate an offensive player.

Examples

• Dodging Situations: If an offensive player dodges past a defender, the adjacent defender slides to cut off the driving lane and help their teammate.

• Isolation Plays: When the offense isolates their best attacker, adjacent slides prevent that player from making a straight-line run at the goal.

When Is It Not Effective?

• Against Well-Spaced Offenses: When offensive players are well-spread, sliding adjacent can leave other attackers wide open for easy passes and scoring opportunities.

• Communication Failures: Poor communication among defenders can cause confusion, leaving multiple attackers open or resulting in missed slides.

• Against Picks and Screens: Teams using lots of picks and screens can manipulate the defense, exploiting adjacent slides and causing defenders to lose track of their marks.

Examples

• Overcommitting: If the adjacent defender slides too early or aggressively, they leave their original attacker wide open for a pass and quick shot.

• Hesitation: If the slide is delayed or hesitant, the attacker has time to make a play, rendering the slide useless.

How to Execute the Adjacent Slide

Step-by-Step Execution

1. Communication

• Verbal Cues: Use terms like “I’m hot” or “Slide!” to signal readiness and indicate who is sliding.

• Continuous Talk: Defenders should constantly communicate their positions, especially when the ball moves or an attacker begins a dodge.

2. Anticipation

• Reading the Play: Defenders must anticipate when their teammate is about to be beaten. This means constantly being aware of both the ball and your attacker.

• Positioning: Stay close enough to your assigned attacker, but ready to help your teammate when necessary.

3. Sliding

• Proper Angle: Slide at an angle that blocks the attacker’s direct path to the goal.

• Body Positioning: Stay low with a balanced, athletic stance, leading with your stick to disrupt the attacker’s movement and shooting lane.

4. Recovery

• Fill the Gap: After sliding, other defenders must quickly rotate to cover the now open attacker.

• Reassign Markings: Communicate new assignments as the defense re-organizes.

5. Maintaining Communication

• Constant Updates: After the slide, keep communicating. Call out new positions like “Switch” or “Stay” to help teammates adjust.

Advanced Tips

• Footwork: Practicing good footwork ensures a quicker, more controlled slide.

• Stick Work: Keep your stick in the passing lanes to limit easy passes to uncovered attackers.

• Field Awareness: Defenders must always know where the ball is and where each attacker is positioned.

Pros and Cons of the Adjacent Slide

Pros

• Quick Help: Provides immediate assistance to a defender in trouble.

• Dynamic Adjustments: Allows for fast, flexible defensive shifts.

• Disrupts Offensive Flow: Can throw off the timing of an offensive play, especially in isolation or dodging scenarios.

Cons

• Risk of Leaving Attackers Open: The sliding defender’s original assignment may be left unguarded, creating an easy scoring opportunity.

• High Communication Demand: Without constant, clear communication, the defense can quickly fall apart.

• Potential to Be Exploited: Smart offenses can anticipate adjacent slides and exploit gaps in the defense by moving the ball quickly to open attackers.

How to Teach the Adjacent Slide

For Beginners

1. Explain the Concept

• Use simple diagrams or on-field examples to show what an adjacent slide looks like.

• Emphasize the importance of teamwork, communication, and always being aware of the ball and the opponent.

2. Basic Drills

• One-on-One with Adjacent Slide: Set up situations where a defender is beaten, and the adjacent defender slides to help.

• Verbal Drills: Teach players to call out “I’m hot” when they are in the adjacent position.

3. Fundamentals

• Focus on basic defensive stance, footwork, and stick positioning.

• Reinforce the importance of recognizing when to slide and when to stay with your own assignment.

Intermediate Level

1. Increase Complexity

• Two-on-Two Drills: Add more players to simulate more realistic game situations. Practice sliding and rotating as a team.

• Recovery Drills: Focus on defenders’ ability to quickly cover open attackers after the slide.

2. Game Awareness

• Teach defenders to read offensive movements and anticipate dodges or isolation plays.

• Use film analysis to show real examples of effective and ineffective adjacent slides.

Advanced Level

1. Full-Team Scrimmages

• Incorporate adjacent slides into full-field scrimmages with 6v6 play to replicate game conditions.

• Emphasize quick, decisive communication and movements.

2. Pressure Drills

• Practice adjacent slides under high-pressure scenarios, like fast breaks or dodging situations, where rapid decisions are critical.

3. Feedback and Analysis

• After drills or scrimmages, provide feedback to players on their timing, communication, and positioning.

• Encourage players to discuss what worked and what didn’t to deepen their understanding of the tactic.

Conclusion

The adjacent slide is a fundamental part of team defense in lacrosse. It offers quick help to defenders and disrupts the flow of the offense. By teaching players how to communicate, anticipate, and recover effectively, the adjacent slide can significantly boost a team’s defensive strength. Mastering this technique requires practice, communication, and the ability to read the game as it unfolds.